About

The original idea for this blog was as a forum for the watercolour sketches and drawings I appear to be obsessed with producing since going on a botanical painting weekend 18 months ago. ( I envisaged it a little bit like a modern version of Edith Holden’s “Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady”.) I also hope, that apart from giving people the occasional “giggle”, this journal and my observations will engage people with the countryside, plants, animals and rural way of life that’s so important to me, and which, I feel, has become so distanced from our modern urban society. So much knowledge of basic, what I would have to term as ” survival skills”, have been diluted and no longer feature in the modern way of life. Nor do we seem to have the time “to stand and stare” and truly observe, appreciate and try to understand the natural world around us.

The author, whose farming lineage can be traced back to the 14th century in the Cotswolds, currently lives on a small holding in the Welsh borders with her husband, horse and animals.

Your drawings are lovely and I so very much enjoy your writings of farm life. Thank you. I live in the southern part of USA on small acreage with cows. I’ve recently returned from visiting England, Ireland and Scotland and found the countryside intriguing especially Cotswold. I always look forward to your blog. Linda

Where have you been? Hiding? I now know where you live…well! Sort of. A farm. With land. In the Cotswolds. Close enough. Your watercolours are wonderful. I’m still in the “another one for the bin” phase! Thanks for sharing. Raye

Hello! I really love your work! So much, in fact, I wanted to ask you if you might allow me to use one of your pieces for my logo? It’s the Honeysuckle piece you did that I am interested in. I am all the way in Huntsville, AL. If not, I completely understand! Just thought I would try! Thank you!

I travel within Tennessee and Alabama selling handmade crochet and string art items. My mom and mother-in-law also contribute with sewn baby items and folded book art. It wouldn’t be widely seen. I just was looking for a pretty Honeysuckle image but was having a hard time finding what I was looking for until I found your beautiful Honeysuckle painting.

I have just happened across your beautiful blog, and am enraptured! Lovely illustrations and jottings; so happy to have found you, and am now following, eagerly anticipating future installments. I completely agree with your thoughts in the “About” section – how far removed from the natural world most humans have become. Thank you for showing your readers that all is not lost! I invite you to check out my blog, you might find it of interest. All the best for 2018, and happy writing and illustrating for you!

Your artwork is just gorgeous and I relate to your idyllic rural lifestyle. Well, rural life isn’t always idyllic of course, but aspired to at the very least. Now I have found you again I will be visiting on a regular basis. Thanks for visiting me.

Hello MCL,
Would like to follow your lovely blog, but stupidly I can’t find a follow button anywhere. Is it there hidden as a widget, or if not, could you add it as a widget with your theme?
I’m probably just being dense – I never really look at the WordPress reader pages – maybe that would allow me to do it? Best wishes
Julian

As I have already said once before today: ‘Time is a luxury and – some of us have no time to spare!
I think everyone should embrace the idea of sitting down somewhere of your choice in nature and remain sitting there – observing, listening, contemplating for at least one hour every day! You won’t persih from it, but – you might get a new lease on life! Try it out and observe how butterflies, bumblebees and other accept you as a natural part of nature. They might even stop by for a minute getting to know you! 🙂